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On Trial for Their Lives.
The preliminary hearing of Mrs. Mary Sheedy, A. H. Walstrom and Monday McFarland was begun before Judge Houston in the big district courtroom this morning. The state was represented by County Attorney Snell and F. M. Hall and the defense by J. B. Strode and J. E. Philpott.
Although the examination did not begin until 10:30 o'clock, the courtroom was crowded by 9 o'clock. There were not over a dozen women present, but the men literally climbed over one another in their desire to see the prisoners. The crowd pressed against the big railing until it cracked ominously, and the court was compelled to back. Mrs. Sheedy was accompanied by her two sisters, Mrs. Dean of this city and Mrs. Baker of Western, Neb. Mr. Baker was also present. Walstrom and McFarland had been kept in the judge's private office since 8 o'clock, but Mrs. Sheedy was brought directly from the hall. She was very pale, and at the close of the morning, session was evidently suffering from nervous prostration and tottered as she walked on the arms, of her sisters. All were brought in through a rear door guarded by Officer Keaney.
The courtroom, although crowded, had very few ladles In the audience and they sat so far back In the room that they could not see or hear. Judge House Informed the crowd that any disturbance In the room would be punished by a short or long (according to the size of the disturbance) stay in jail. Mr. Strode waived all formalities and allowed the examination to proceed.
Dr. Everett was the first witness called. He tested as to who were present at the Sheedy residence after the blow had been struck. He had been in the house but a short time before Dr. Hart came he described the wound as the result of a blow. At 1 o'clock Mr. Sheedy was perfectly unconscious; thought has condition indicated that same poison or narcotic had been administered. At the autopsy, the brain was found to be perfectly sound,
no cloth or other indication of having been injured by a blow. He was not able to state what caused Mr. Sheedy's death but thought that it resulted from the injury over the eye. The symptoms were those of morphine poisoning.
Dr. Hart 'was then called. Among other things he said that he gave Mr. Sheedy medicine about 12 o'clock, and had it put In coffee, which was prepared by Mrs. Sheedy, who brought it into the room. The doctor put the medicine in the coffee and Mrs. Sheedy gave ber husband the dose of coffee-clear-and the medicine.
Dr. Casebeer was the next witness, but as he did not see Mrs. Sheedy before her husband died, he did not throw any light on the mystery.
H. Goldwater, a pawnbroker, was called. Knew Monday McFarland. Had him a cane one afternoon a few before Sheedy was struck. Witness has bought the cane of an ex-convict. He positively identified the cane because of he had mended it by driving in the head a half dozen tacks. The head came off and it was mended by tackling it on. Officer Malone brought the cane to me Saturday night after Sheedy was hurt and I recognized the cane by taking the top off where I had tacked it on and I saw that the ferrule at the small end was off. Goldwater was pat through a searching cross-examination but proved a valuable witness for the state. An adjournment was then taken until half-past, one. Dr. Besohley was examined this afternoon. Had examined organs of de